ON VACATION

As of THIS MOMENT, Blog9 is on hiatus for summer vacation!

Have a wonderful summer - we'll be back (with you!) in the fall!
~The Blog9 Team

108 Degrees and All is Well

Summer.
Working almost 40 hours a week.
Rehearsing five nights a week from 6:30 until whenever the hell our insane director lets us leave (last summer it was usually before midnight. Usually being the operative word).
Sweating.
Driving.
Eating fruit in massive quantities.
Selling my soul to the oil companies, or possibly trying to singlehandly retrofit my car so that it runs on vegetable oil.
Home friends.
Missing VC friends.
Did I mention sweating?

come visit me, what happens here stays here (unless you're Britney)
littleone

On Being a Kid

So I'm currently with my parents visiting my cousins who live near Vassar.
(Needless to say, my semester's done. That's cool.)

There's my sweet young aunt, my funny young uncle, and their three boys ages 6,8, and 11 who are all funny, super-smart, crazy, and total sweet-hearts. I love being around all five.

Last night, I slept on dinosaur sheets... This morning I played 2 on 2 basketball with them and made some sweet 3-pointers!

In other words, I'm adopting the life of a 9-year-old boy, and I love it. It's something we should all get back to sometimes--it's simple. The rules of life are simple. Don't steal the ball when it's not your turn, try hard, laugh a lot, run around, and sometimes you've just got to have a wrestle fight in the grass even if some people don't like it.

Being around the three boys reminded me just how much kids are real people. I think as we get older we tend to forget that.

This afternoon they were fascinated by my digital camera (hell, it fascinates me too--uh, I mean, "well," not "hell"; I can't sweart here!) and I let them use it and take pictures (close-ups of my feet, anyone? sure!). Then I took a few videos of them with the video function and they watched them over and over again.

I love these kids, basically, and I'm glad I have the privilege of watching them grow up and growing up with them--or I guess now I'm growing down.

And it's good.

I hope everyone is either finishing exams/papers well or enjoying their first few days home. Take a risk, be wild, act like the kid you still are. 18 or 19 means nothing.

-aRCHEL

I'm Going to Miss This

Today, I decided to take all my pictures off my wall. It looks really sad. While putting them away, I found notes that we had all written to each other after a play I was in senior year. I just finished reading them. I feel like I’ve changed a lot from the person they describe, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s in good or bad ways. I think a little bit of both. I’m glad to be going home soon, because I want to return somewhat to the me in those notes. Not that I’ll loose what Vassar has added, of course. Especially all the amazing people who have helped me through.

Whenever I think of how soon I’m going home, I get really excited. But then I remember I have to pack, clean, take an exam, and say goodbye to everyone. That makes me a little less excited. But I did steal a tray (with trayfitti) from the DC to preserve it for next year! And to go traying.

I know you will all have amazing summers, but aren’t we all going to miss this? If you need more proof, just look at that picture. I can’t wait to see you all again next year!

-Peabo

I Wanna Go Home

First, I want to apologize to everyone who's been checking in on us today. A lot of people moved out of their dorm (including myself), and we just didn't have the time to post.

But I'm here now.

It feels weird being home. It doesn't quite feel right here. For the first time since I've been at Vassar, some of my "Vassar self" is slowly leaking into my "home self" with astonishing quickness. My sibs love it. We'll see what my rents think. haha.

I miss Vassar. I have virtually no friends here to chill with... Hopefully I'll be able to rectify that soon... If I have time... I'll be working my ass off over the summer. Fun stuff....

It took me seven hours to pack... We'll see how long it takes me to unpack.
That's what I'm off to do now.
My room needs a paint job.
I'm thinking burgundy.

Sprink.

Peace.

**WARNING: THIS POST IS LONGER THAN 300 WORDS.**

So this will be my last post as a Joss correspondent, because I am moving to a GLORIOUS apartment next year, where no one will vom on my bathroom floor (hopefully) or scream outside my window at 4 AM. It's a little bittersweet at the same time, because I'll miss being able to run up and down the halls and visit my friends whenever I want, but the benefits far outweigh the losses. So prepare yourselves for The Adventures of Littleone Off-Campus (volume one: Adventures in Cooking OR Littleone Sets the Oven on Fire).

(ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DC BAGELS ARE APPARENTLY INFESTED. Oh my GOD, I eat those every day. Including this morning. I am seriously holding back my gag reflex right now. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check Mads or the Vassar Livejournal community... unless you have a weak stomach or have recently eaten a bagel from the DC.)

Back on track, though...

This year. What can I say? I don't know where to start. It wasn't what I expected. Nothing about this school is what I expected. Which isn't to say I'm unhappy - I really do love Vassar.

I forgot that your status somewhere else doesn't automatically transfer. I was first in my class in high school, in the top level of dance in a fairly competitive program, building up a reputation in the theatre community in my city... yeah, none of that came with me to Vassar. There are a lot of people here that are a LOT smarter than me, I didn't even get into VRDT, and... well... the theatre thing went well, so I guess I'm good at something. But as I learned in high school, so too am I learning in college - if you want respect, you kind of have to work your ass off to get it. And I'm doing that. And I love it.

I will miss you all during this long, hot (I hate living in the desert) summer. If you need me, you will be able to find me drowning my sorrows at Del Taco.

littleone

It's Over! (ish)

I hope everyone's finals are going well; it's almost over! I have my two toughest finals Monday and Tuesday, then I go back home to Long Island. Here are some things that I'm looking forward to doing this summer:
-Getting back on a normal sleep schedule
-Eating home cooking
-Making different kinds of soup :d
-Doing some reading for pleasure (I'm thinking about finally investing time to read the Lord of the Rings)
-Write!! I wrote this short story last year which is sort of nothing on its own, but I now have an idea for a full story and context. I'm looking forward to putting that down in form.

What I will miss:
-Davison!!!!
-Laughter about random things that don't make sense
-Laughter about intelligent, witty things
-UPC runs
-RISK playing :D

Well, that's it for me. I wish you all luck on your finals, and a safe trip hope!

Enjoy the summer,
-Poseidon

P.S. Pick up a copy of Helicon (the literary magazine) in the library or other highly traveled locations!

Who naps with their blinds open?!

After my two-week long stay in the hospital with Toxic Shock Syndrome and a Staph infection and a near-death experience, vivalawhitegirl is back with Miss Abreves, because I might get too tired and fall asleep before I finish this post. we walked all over campus today running errands and we saw that our friends window was open and the blinds were up so we called his name and he was napping! what a silly goose.

anyway, the list. things we're gonna miss about vc.

r the g
hipster royalty
fucking up my stir fry
getting $7.50 for my $200 bio book
nicknames and the people who have them
lalala
free condoms
kid with cape
kid with leopard hair
cosmo story excerpt readings
kmg
dmn (the game and the person)
the m
christmas lights year round in a noncreepy way
boys with scruff
gossip girl/project runway gatherings
"hansel, he's so hot right now"
nuggets!

have safe trips home and have a great summer,
vivalawhitegirl

The End of This Chapter

**WARNING: THIS POST IS LONGER THAN 300 WORDS.**
Ciao ciao ciao ciao a tutti!

Well, today will be short and (hopefully) sweet. I am finished with this year. I'm sad to see it go but I had my moments and now it's time for new ones, not that I'll ever forget the old. I have taken my finals, finished my essays, stored my things (I didn't realize how much stuff I had here...sad), and for the most part filled my suitcases. Friday, I am on a plane back home. I have packed up my life here and it is ready to relocate. Have a wonderful summer all of you and I'll see you next year!

P.S.- My room looks disgustingly bare and unfriendly. Oh well...

FUN(NY)SEX(Y)FACTS:

---On average, it takes two tablespoons of blood to get a man's penis erect. (Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine GO DOWN....Don't ask me where that came from, I don't know)
---The G-spot, a sensitive area located inside the vagina on the upper wall, an inch or two behind the back of the pubic bone, is named for Dr. Ernest Grafenberg. (Hahaha...wow, wouldn't I like to have something that gives so much pleasure to women /9or anyone) named after me! I think I should go invent some type of amazing vibrator or discover a body part....oooh my summer plans are piling up)
---The vagina and the eye are self-cleaning organs.
---The prophet Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute because Israel, herself, hath committed great whoredom. (hahaha...wow. And we thought we had problems)
---The word "ejaculation" comes from the Latin word meaning "throwing out." (So when was the last time you ejaculated via intercourse or masturbation? I just had a conversation about this earlier.)
---A dragonfly's penis has a shovel on the end that scoops out a rival male's semen (I've actually seen this happen. Kinda trippy)
---The average gorilla weighing 200 pounds has a penis that is two inches long. (I love gorillas!)
---According to psychologists, the shoe and the foot are the most common sources of sexual fetishism in Western society. (Why??? I guess it could be worse....)
---Aphallatosis is a mental disorder resulting from a lack of sex life. (Well, we have a lot of people suffering from that on this campus....)

Pace ed amore,
Chipmunk

Tough Year for Transfers: 3% Acceptance Rate at Vassar

My friend who applied to Vassar recently received his decision letter which stated the number of people applied and accepted. According to the letter, this has been an extremely tough year for students hoping to transfer to Vassar.

For the Fall of '08, only 10 out of over 300 applicants were offered a spot. This comes in the wake of pending plans to renovate Davison House, forcing Vassar into a housing crunch for the 2008-09 year.

The exceptionally low acceptance rate of 3% is unprecedented in recent Vassar history, and is beginning to resemble the single-digit acceptance rate commonly affiliated with the Ivy League Schools.

The implications of such statistics in the long term are unclear.

Please note that Vassar Admissions has yet to publish the official statistics of transfer applicants for 2008-09.

JEWETTGOSSIP

And the Winner Is....

**SPOILER ALERT: THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS ABOUT THE SEASON FINALE OF AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. HIGHLIGHT THE BLACK SPACE BELOW TO READ.**

Last night was the season finale of Cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model. After a Covergirl commercial shoot, the final three were narrowed down to the final two. Fatima was eliminated, leaving Whitney and Anya to battle it out in the runway fashion show. The show was in Italy and the clothes were picked by Donatella Versace herself. The girls gave it their all but when it came time to chose the winner, Whitney was chosen. She became the show's first ever full-figured model to win.

SGPG's take: I have been a fan of Whitney since day one. Not only is she an absolutely beautiful girl, but she really does feel confident in her own skin. Most of the time, full-figured models come into the competition and eventually they loose their composure and their insecurities come through. This was never the case with Whitney and I admired her for that. However, as much as I loved her I don't think she deserved to win more than Anya. Anya was an amazing model from day one. She took gorgeous pictures and was the type of person that you just wanted to be best friends with. Although both were talented, I feel that in the end Anya was more talented. That being said, Whitney did a fantastic job also. Overall, it was a great season. And I cannot wait for Cycle 11!

Stand On the Winner Platform, It’s Fun

I was sitting with some friends at the Retreat last night, and as it was a few hours after my evening biology exam, I was spacing out more than usual. I was gazing blankly at the wall behind my roommate’s head, and didn’t really register what I was looking at until it had already happened. Have any of you seen the video montage of student art projects playing on the Retreat television (I’m still confused about exactly what that’s for...)? For some reason, in my stupor, that clip of the colored, paint-filled balloons popping in a meticulously arranged domino effect was extremely appealing.

I’m not an art student, so I don’t know if all this artwork is coming out of one course or multiple ones. Whatever the source, I love the way its products are distributed, and fact that they’ve spilled out of the gallery in Main into the entire building and the rest of the campus (even Sunset Lake...someone get that artist antibiotics, please). Some of us don’t often go out of our way to appreciate student artwork, so it’s kinda nice to have it shoved in our faces once in a while.

So props to the balloon kid. Also to whoever made those perspective pyramids on that path between campus and the TAs. Oh, and the candelabra by the Infodesk is sweet, too.

Good luck on exams, everyone. Recycle!
Love,
thejellyfish

It's Been Lovely

I've just completed one final and I have one more tomorrow, not including a couple more papers that I'm not really fretting over. But then after that, no more Vassar =D. To be back home where I am appreciated in more ways than one. To roam the streets and always have something to do. To order chinese food @ 1am, and have it only be right around the corner... AND to order a meal for myself and pay less than $10. To go to the mall and not see mall security (I honestly thought that mall security was something made up for movies; Poughkeepsie has taught me better...). To have my room to myself. My high ceiling and width and television and computer and... To be in solemn silence. That's my home.

What's yours?

Luvs and hugs,
Dyamond Phillips

No Complainin' Here

OK, everybody. Ya don't need to hear me complain about finals, so here's the best thing I've seen (about 20 times) all week:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_fSpI4oZoDc

It's a music video for an amazing Indian song, with fake english subtitles. I like the song itself and the guy is fuckin adorable, but if you go in expecting the english subtitles to be stupid,like I did, you're in for a pleasant surprise, as I was.

I want to be in Bollywood (not that this is).

strange and chunky. What is going on with our showers? There's been much hubbub in our bathrooms lately. When do y'all go home? I don't want to.

wow! Primal Scream was grrrrreat! I love to scream and yes, I'm bragging, but I have the best screams ever screamed in all...man, that's a strange word. Think of it. "scrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeam"..it just sounds shrill and abrasive. Like my loud sound. Goodbye, folks. Have good summers and like....don't get pregnant, catch diseases, discover your parent' hidden life as a gangster, be dumped by your significant other of five years, have your pet die, or eat fast food over the vacation. But do, however, white-water raft and dance and sing a lot. That's all you need in life to make you happy. If you feel like shit, dance and sing. and exercise. then drink yourself into a sad little bubble and sleep on it. and wear more pink and green together.

CJDC

From the Desk of SQUIRM

Hey! I just wanted to let you know that this year's Squirm is being distributed in front of the library tomorrow (Friday the 16th) from noon to 4.

Sasha (literary editor and head of the org)

SPRiNKLES's Take: DAYMN this late in the school year? A bit of a risky move, if you ask me.... I know I'll be picking up my copy, though - I loves me Squirm! Go get some sexiness, too!

Mads Freezes Comments

For those of you who are dedicated Mads readers, you've probably already seen it, but:

"We've been inundated with spam in the last few hours and we need to freeze commenting for the time being. Thanks for your patience and your comments will be published soon.

-Mads
Wednesday 8PM"

No doubt this is in response to what is possibly the most controversial comment war in the history of the blog. Oddly enough, it stemmed from the accident in the library. Mads posted a little more info about it than some people liked, and now finds itself amidst a battle between Mads lovers and haters. Among the various topics touched upon in the comments is the question as to whether Mads should be considered a gossip site or a news site.

I personally like to think of it as an inside scoop as to what's going on around campus, gossip or otherwise.

That said, Mads, I feel your pain!
We had a bit of a snafu when we first started over a similar incident.

My advice to Mads: keep on trucking!
If 200,000 hits doesn't validate a blog, I dunno what does....
(40,000 maybe??)
;)
Sprink.

Injury More Serious Than We Know?

I'm sure all of you read J.J.'s e-mail about the awful accident that happened at the library last night.

What I overlooked originally is that she says tonight at 8:00 there will be a "gathering" on the Chapel Lawn.

To say the least, this definitely puts the incident in a new light.
Sprink.

Intriguing....

There seems to be an awful lot of shit going down right now in my life, the lives of those close to me, and the whole Vassar community. And those three are unrelated. But still, crazy. And all right before exams, so not very conducive towards studying.

For those interested in the Vassar community drama, there's a very interesting comment war going on at Mads. I recommend checking it out. That's what I've been doing instead of studying for my astronomy final...

Good luck to all of you with all your various endeavors.
-Peabo

It's that time again...

Time for exams.

Last night was fun, with the midnight breakfast (I was more interested in the company than the food), the naked run (ha!), and the fire show. It was a fun time to hang out with various friends.

Needless to say, the incident in the library was frightening, and my roommate was there and came back quite shell-shocked. Here at Blog9 we sincerely hope that he will be okay, and since do not wish to propagate any rumors there will be no speculating or discussion of the incident.

On a lighter note, today I'm going to study for a while, then I have an exam from 5 to 7, then I'll have a victory dinner with some friends. Then one more exam tomorrow and I'm finished for the semester... Ahh... Otherwise, I'm looking forward to stealing my roommate's Glamour magazine to read on the quad!

Good luck with exams!
-aRCHEL

To Clear the Rumors

The guy in the library who fell and hurt himself during primal scream will be alright. So far all I know is he is a senior and a great guy, and probably just had a very bad shoulder injury, but is conscious.

Just a reminder to everybody out there to be careful and take care of yourselves. Good luck on finals.

~Rad

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

G'Day readers! Hope your study week has been productive!

We come to you today with very important news.

Due to several important factors - everyone's leaving campus, summer will be busy for both correspondents and you, and, above all, our impending refresh - we decided at our last meeting to go on FULL HIATUS effective Wednesday, May 21.

That means that after next week Tuesday (5/20), there will not be any new posts on Blog9 until after summer break. No worries, though - we will definitely be back in the fall with some awesome stories about our summer, new correspondents, and a fresh look!

So keep us bookmarked! Thank you for your faithful reading, and good luck on your exams!
~The Blog9 Team

Getting It On Globally

Percentages of people in surveyed countries having sex at least once a week, according to the 2007/08 Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey:

1. Greece: 87%
2. Brazil: 82%
6. Italy: 76%
8. Spain: 72%
11. South Africa: 71%
23. United Kingdom: 55%
25. United States: 53%
26. Japan: 34%

26 countries were surveyed, 1,000 people in each country... looks like the U.S. has some catching up to do. Or we're just less promiscuous. ;)

Full results of the survey, which includes many more interesting topics, can be found here (click on "SWGS Findings").
Sprink.

Source: OUT Magazine, June/July 2008 issue

Amid All the Stress

...So...I was walking to the Kiosk a little while ago for a heavenly Starbucks Frappuccino when I look up and see...a freakin' RAINBOW over Main!! I'm not kidding - it's completely sunny outside but there's a rainbow projected over a streak of clouds on top of Main! It's lovely. I mean... it doesn't erase the fact that everything seems out of my control right now but... it helps? Maybe that's just me - I love rainbows. Breathe in, everybody. Step out for a bit, feel the sun and breathe...it'll be over soon (that's what I keep telling myself).

Good luck to you all!

Aletheia

UPDATE: Pic!

As Time Goes By

I just came back from my last choir event of the year: a day long trip in NYC for a concert for Vassar alumni. The bus ride gave me some time to reflect upon my first year at Vassar.... and, in short, it's been quite a year. It's interesting to think about how different I feel about this place and its people now than I did a lot of last semester. I was having some trouble adjusting last semester because of some things going on at home; I didn't quite have the right frame of mind necessary while making the great shift to college life. However, I found that some friends came through, who made it all better; a lot of whom were in choir. I'm starting to *consciously* realize that I invest myself emotionally in choir. What I mean by this is that at the same time that I rely on the music to express emotion, I feel emotion because of the experience of expressing music among my fellow singers and friends.

As a result, I've realized that I'm sad that I won't be seeing some of these wonderful people until next fall, possibly longer for those who are graduating. I know I've made permanent friendships, though, because I feel like I've known some of my friends here for years. I find it strange that after only 8 months, I feel like I would be lost without some of these people.

I want to thank those who have made this year great, and who sustained my sanity when I needed it most; you'll be hearing from me in person. :)

Callooh! Callay!
-Poseidon

Want New Posts?

Write something!

Today's a sloooowwww day. Everyone's finally buckling down for the upcoming exam week!

Have a personal story you'd like to share? Send it to lifeinthe9@gmail.com!

We look forward to hearing from you!
~The Blog9 Team

What I'm Listening To

Has anyone heard the new Fergie song?



Yea, that's a sample of the Sex and the City theme. The song's titled "Labels or Love" and it's being used for the upcoming film's opening credits. Didn't like it at first, but after several listens, I'm hooked. It's infectious.

Thoughts?
muah! sprink.

Unbelievable

Some of you may have already read about the recent incest case in Austria, but for those of you who haven't, here's the link for the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/world/europe/29austria.html?scp=2&sq=Austria+incest&st=nyt

I am shocked that this has happened. How can a father go through with something like this? To completely ruin his daughter's life (not to mention the lives of all her children and his wife) in such an appalling way? Can anyone reading this article even fathom the idea of locking up an 18-year-old girl for 24 YEARS and having 7 children with her? Because I can't. It makes every part of me ache, honestly.

To me, this case reveals a glimmer of the extent to which a human psyche can become fucked up. And who's to say that there aren't other cases like this out there (and even worse, perhaps, though it's hard to imagine having it any worse)?

Thank God we as humans have societal standards, and a means to punish these perverts.

-Crito

Unregrettably Yours

You ever have one of those days in which you feel so down and deep in the gutter that when you look up the sky is a murky brown? Yeah, that's my day. Nothing bad happened to me, I just feel so down because of things that will happen.

For instance, a book I need for one of my final papers is MIA in the library. Woe is me.

But honestly, there's no need to panic. I just need to climb to see blue skies, simply because they're there and I know I can reach them easily. You can too.

Luvs and hugs,
Dyamond Phillips

Mother's Day!

If you haven't all ready, be sure to call your mom and let her know how much she means to you!(and how happy you are that she decided to carry your ass in her uterus for 9 months)

Oh, and watch this lovely ballad:


Sprink.

Don't Worry; Be Happy

As I write this, I am sitting in a cute little study carrel (sp?) in the Art Library that faces out towards Raymond Ave. I should be working on my Spanish final, but instead I am writing for you eager readers. With everyone getting into frenzies about finals and projects and papers, I have learned something rather interesting about myself. I don't really stress out about that kind of thing. Not that I don't worry about things from time to time, but I rarely feel so overloaded that I just freak out.

I think this is good and bad. It is good because I don't have to deal with the feeling of absolute doom that some of my friends are dealing with now (don't worry guys, it will all be over soon!). But on the other hand, sometimes I don't realize just how much effort something is going to take until I sit down to do it a day or two before it is due. I am desperately trying to break out of my habits of procrastination, but it is so difficult. I know in the end that it will all get done. And I know, or at least I hope, that ultimately I'll get a good grade and everything will be fine. I hope this isn't sounding cocky. I don't mean it to be at all. I just think that too often people stress about things to the point where they doom themselves to failure, and it doesn't need to be that way. So, even if you are swimming in work (as I think most of us are) just try to think positively... Yes, you have a lot to do but when you finish it will be summer! Good luck with the rest of the year!

<3 SGPG

MAY DAY!

**WARNING: THIS POST IS LONGER THAN 300 WORDS.**
Ciao ciao ciao a tutti!

I hope that you all went to see "A Winter's Tale" this weekend. One of my best friends was in it and they were all amazing! They reminded me of how much I love Shakespeare and outdoor theatre.

Tonight there is an AirCappella/Devils concert in Rocky 200 at 8 PM and it will be fabulous!

So because it is May, there are these daily celebrations called May Days of 2008 series. All 31 days of May have been designated their own theme. This was initially intended to be a small event series for random facebook people and it's not official, but they figured they'd open it to the world. So, anybody may celebrate. You may do the whole series or choose specific days to participate in. HAVE FUN!

Here are the upcoming May Day themes: (and you can find these on facebook!)

5/11/08: International Condiment Day (ya...don't ask me)
5/12/08: International Powerthirst Day
5/13/08: International Smack An Ass Day
5/14/08: International ...In Bed Day
5/15/08: International Gum-Chewing Day
5/16/08: International Sexual Act Day
5/17/08: International Whipped Cream Day
5/18/08: International Photograph Your Day Day
5/19/08: International Sexican Day
5/20/08: International Sexual Innuendo Day
5/21/08: International Tickle Day
5/22/08: International Gluten-Free Day
5/23/08: International Bagel Day
5/24/08: International Videogame Marathon Day
5/25/08: International Vegetarian Day
5/26/08: International Humorous T-Shirt Day
5/27/08: International Zombie Day
5/28/08: International Spontaneous Orgasm Day
5/29/08: International Are You Nervous Day
5/30/08: International Blame It On _____ Day
5/31/08: International National Foods Day

And here are your

FUN(NY)SEX(Y)FACTS:

---According to the book Hidden Bedroom Partners: Needs and Motives That Destroy Sexual Pleasure, what your partner does after sex may have lots of hidden meanings. Immediately rolling over and going to sleep may indicate anger. Going to the bathroom may reflect feelings of guilt. (And if you cry during???)
---The typical person spends about 600 hours having sex between the ages of 20 and 70. (Jezzey Chrezzy!)
---Researchers say that condoms exposed to smog and ozone are less effective. (So scientific!)
---According to certain rabbinical interpretations, Adam had sex with animals. (I do not mean to offend anyone!)
---Erect giraffe penises are four feet long. (Ouch.....)

Pace ed amore,
Chipmunk

The Beginning of the End

The cover of the newest issue of TIME magazine says it all:

This definitely has some weight, as TIME is one of the (if not THE) most respected news magazines in the world. Inside, there are several articles pertaining to Obama's candidacy, as well as one titled "The Mistakes She Made," all of which stand to crown Obama as the Democratic Party nominee.

This issue comes amidst new reports that Obama has virtually erased Clinton's superdelegate lead - what was once a gap of 106 superdelegates is now a barely visible divide of 4. There is also speculation as to the possibility of Obama helping Clinton pay off her campaign debts - a traditional sign of good-will between warring candidates.

To sum up my take on all this in one word: YESSSSSSSSSS!

;)

Sprinkles.

A Happier Teaser

Ugh. After the teaser for S. Darko, I was afraid to post this one, but....




THREE HOURS?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
I haven't finished watching Volume Two, which I heard (and have seen so far) was nowhere near as good as Volume One. Volume Three: Villains looks intriguing at the very least.

Thoughts??
Sprink

The Tragedy of Hollywood

Is it possible for Hollywood to leave a good film alone these days? Let me give you a great example of why sequeling NEEDS to stop:

This is not a mockup or photoshop; this is the ACTUAL teaser poster for S. Darko, the sequel to, you guessed it, Donnie Darko. Now, Donnie Darko is, in my opinion, one of the greatest films ever made. It's one of those films that you either love or you hate, and I love it.

Thing about it is it didn't make a lot of money when it was released. It came out just after 9/11, and many people just weren't in the mood for crazy psychotic rabbits and a time warp story. The film did well in DVD sales, and started a cult following.

So in my opinion, this move is odd - Donnie Darko wasn't the most successful film ever - it wasn't even a blockbuster. So my guess is Velvet Octopus (the production company) is banking on the cult following of the original to go see this one. Except the cult following doesn't want a sequel. Nothing could ever possibly live up to Donnie Darko.

Oh, and Richard Kelly, the writer and director of the original, ISN'T EVEN INVOLVED.

What kills me even more is a member of the production team, Simon Crowe, said: "Donnie's not in [the new film] but there are meteorites and rabbits." METEORITES and RABBITS? REALLY? Is that was Donnie Darko was about? PLANE TURBINES and RABBITS? Come on!

You can go read the article here, and then go gouge your eyes out with other Donnie Darko lovers at the Comingsoon.net forum here.

Sprink.

Miscellaneous tidbits grabbed from my brain

I've discovered that I really really like cutting hair.

I also really like playing guitar.

But not these things at the same time.

Anyway, I'm going to the Minstrel's concert tonight, which should be funny, enjoyable, and not too long. It's at 9:00 in Sanders.

I finished 28 pages of papers this week. Oh boy...

I'm really tired! I'll take care of that...

Yeahh, Okayy, get crunk!

-aRCHEL

Animal Horns, Vaginas, and Peace

Ciao ciao ciao ciao a tutti!

So I'm really excited to say that today is.......
International Be Sexually Inappropriate With Your Friends Day

Yay! Go get your grab on! (But make sure you let them know that it's a special occasion....)

While you may already be sexually inappropriate with your friends on a daily basis, today you actually have an excuse. Plus it's fun seeing awkward glances from people, right???

And here are your....

FUN(NY)SEX(Y)FACTS:

---"Reltney" is archaic slang for "penis" and "Hockey" is archaic slang for "semen." So....what's vagina? and eggs?
---John Harvey Kellogg (who invented Kellogg's Corn Flakes) invented corn flakes as a meatless breakfast food, designed to reduce the sexual drive and to reduce masturbation. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? Dude, you masturbate in spite of him. Masturbating is not bad for you. It's actually probably the safest thing you could do, having sex with yourself.
---A man will ejaculate approximately 18 quarts of semen, containing half a trillion sperm, in his lifetime. DAAaaaaaAAAAYYYMMMMM! Woohoo sex ed!
---In ancient Greece and Rome dildos were carved out of everything they could get their hands on from wood, glass, leather, gold, silver and even animal horns. OUCH! I'm sorry but I wouldn't want to put an animal horn in my vagina. And I don't think anyone else would either... Comments?

Pace ed amore,
Chipmunk

P.S.-- Has anybody else noticed all the little kids running around and going into the dorms? Apparently it's Peace Day? Shouldn't everyday be Peace Day?

Exit, Pursued By A Bear

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Shakespeare Troupe's new play: The Winter's Tale. Now, I won't give anything away for those of you who haven't seen it, but I will tell you to expect a lot of laughing, singing, drama, a little bit of confusion...and maybe some tears. The Winter's Tale is also known to have Shakespeare's most famous stage direction: "Exit, pursued by a bear".

As you may or may not know, the plot goes more or less like this: Leontes, King of Sicilia, accuses his pregnant wife Hermione of committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia (and Leontes' childhood friend). The events develop dramatically and we end up sixteen years later in Bohemia, where Leontes' lost daughter lives and has fallen in love. I won't say more, and let you guys find out, but let me tell you that it's definitely worth it. The set, the music and the lights set the perfect mood for such an inspiring play.

Look out for the bear!
Aletheia

Poll Results!

FOUNDER'S DAY: YAY OR NAY?

72% - YAY
18% - NAY
9% - DIDN'T PARTICIPATE

It should be noted this is the first time we've had a "YAY" over 70%!

Long Time No See... And STRESS!

This is JEWETTGOSSIP reporting... ahem!

My apologies for not posting on Blog9 for a very VERY long time! I have had a lot going on family-wise as well as academically.
But now I'm back!

I am glad to announce to you that....

In Jewett, there are people, yes people not a person staying up till 7 in the morning these days, writing papers to see the sunrise. Life during study week sucks huh? I finished 2 papers and still have 4 more and 3 exams to study for - great. Founder's Day was awesome but it really didn't help with the workload I have.

But I am real excited about this weekend. There's so many parties in various dorms tonight as well the the FARM RAVE! so excited! and it's going to go on till 6am?!? HOLY MOTHER OF COW!

I know how stressed out many of you guys are, I for one certainly am with 6 units of classes and A FREAKING CONCERT IN NYC on Monday arggggg! but take a break, go dance it out at the farm rave.

You know you need it!
JEWETTGOSSIP

ohmigod I want to go home.

I'm sitting here in front of my window with my fan on.

My fan is blowing cigarette smoke directly into my face because of the people sitting on the steps of Joss polluting the airspace.

Cigarette smoke gives me migraines.

I HATE SMOKERS SO MUCH. Blacken your own lungs all you want, but leave me out of it. I seriously don't get why people our age smoke. We all know the MANY health risks perfectly well, and I can't be the only person with multiple relatives having suffered lung cancer. Seriously, is it worth it to look "cool" (which, for the record, you don't) or be skinny?

gross.
littleone

A New Voice

This is the Jellyfish, signing in from Cushing!

I’m your new Cush correspondent, because Blog9 has clearly been lacking its very own bit of aimless, gelatinous marine life. Also, our delightful beligxoxo needs someone to help report the wild doings of the Cushlings.

Speaking of which, some glorious individual has been hooking his Nintendo up to the giant flatscreen in the common room and thus I have rediscovered my unparalleled Mario Kart skills. I’d like to thank my Mario Kart angel and suggest that he might also leave blueberry muffins down there next time.

until next time, I’m yours,
thejellyfish

I've Been Lightly Drinking, and a Little Heavy on the Thinking

Few people know her name, but this sexy gal from San Diego just released a killer album. Tristan Prettyman is a former model turned singer-songwriter (and also Jason Mraz's former girlfriend), but don't let that turn you off: she's got a lot of talent and it shines through every inch of this sophomore album. The sound is sort of folksy and upbeat, and the lyrics are just really simple, direct, and honest. Her voice is soft and lovely and very pure. Also, those of you who know Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens), he's featured on one of the tracks. Badass. You should check her out!!

My favorite tracks on Hello...X are Hello, Echo, Handshake, and In Bloom. The title track especially is ridiculously awesome.

love,
Rad

Meeting of the Minds

Ciao ciao ciao ciao a tutti!
We are in a Blog9 meeting......at this very moment. Trying to think of ideas for next year.
God damn sucksuckyfuckfucky!

Well, instead, let's talk about sex! That's never god damn sucksuckyfuckfucky, except for in a good suckfuck. Actually, that's not true. There is some really suckyfucky. Ok, I think I'm done now....

FUN(NY)SEX(Y)FACTS:

---The first condoms in the US were made from vulcanized rubber in the 1870s. They were expensive and annoyingly thick and meant to be reused. ok so...1) OUCH 2) EWW! 3) Well, I guess they're kind of like diaphragms...

---In Texas it is illegal to sell a vibrator as anything other than a ‘novelty’. ??? Would they sell vibrators as something weird??? Like.... in replacement of wooden spoons for cooking??? Huh?

------Only 17% of women are likely to have an orgasm during sex. Sad but true.... They are more like to orgasm if they "do it themselves" or have a sex toy.... So attention all sex partners: Don't have a hissyfit if your girlfriend wants to bring a toy into the bedroom. It will make her happy, which should end up making you happy.

---The left testicle usually hangs lower than the right for right-handed men. The opposite is true for lefties. Does anyone wanna confirm this fact???

---According to a survey of sex shop owners, cherry is the most popular flavor of edible underwear. Really? I prefer.... just kidding. No but really, some people I know HATE cherry. It reminds them of medicine. Medicine and vagina usually doesn't lead you to assume there's a "party" going on in her pants, if you know what I mean...


Pace ed amore,
Chipmunk

That's nice.

It's nice to know, even in retrospect, that people care about you. I had a really rough first semester and a friend of mine mentioned tonight that she, and other people, had been worried about me. It's funny, because I had only known them for a couple months at that point, and they were still concerned about me. I'm doing a thousand times better now... thanks to the fact that even though I've only been here since August, I've still found people who care enough to worry about someone they hardly know.

Thank you, all of you.
littleone

p.s. There was an EMS van outside of my dorm a little while ago (it's 1:40 as I write this). Seriously, guys? It's freaking Tuesday. I know it's the last day of classes, but why don't you celebrate by NOT drinking yourself into a comatose stupor? Everything in moderation...

Believe It or Not

You’ve seen squirrels, groundhogs, and rabbits; ….last night, I chanced upon a wolpertinger darting through the trees. It was only for an moment but I swear to it. “Couldn’t be” I muttered to myself, “This far from Bavaria?” I didn’t believe it at first but it couldn’t be denied. It was all there, the horns of a roebuck, the wings of a jay and the feet of a duck. I stood back jaw agape astonished by the wolpertinger’s majesty. Sadly, before I could a girl to expose her breasts and lure it in, it wisped away, appearing to take flight into the night. In an instant the beast was gone, I can only assume it was up to something awesome.

white chocolate

p.s. It may have been a rabbit.

Oy Vey

Done with classes! Everyone is kind of winding down, chilling out, even partying it up. I still have work to do. It's my own fault because I put it off, but I still have to do it. How many of you get to chill out for a while, and how many of you have to keep right on trucking? Kinda sucks, right? But the finish line is in sight. Just one more big sprint and we're there! Trouble is, I've always sucked at running.

Godspeed!

-Peabo

Christmas... In May??

Those of you listening to the wonderful music heralding the presence of the ice cream truck near the Aula are being treated to a wide-ranging medley of songs.

I just heard "O Christmas Tree" and "Joy to the World" being played, followed up by "La Cucharacha."

Anyone else hear anything quirky??

;)
Sprink.

world news? no.

So I receive the NYTimes afternoon update things so that I stay on top of what's going on in the world. They have this extra thing where if something big happens they send you an extra email.

I didn't get anything about the cyclone that's leaving tons of people dead.

I just got an email regarding Uma Thurman's stalker.

How ridiculous is that? I really don't care about Uma Thurman, sorry dear.

Anyway, classes are over, but I still have choir rehearsals, a 12-page paper that is yucky, and 2 finals. Ugh.

I hope you are all enjoying the nice weather and no more lectures.

-aRCHEL

"BARE" With Me

The Bare phenomenon (on campus at least) never ends! Max Fagin recently posted four vids from the fantastic performance of "BARE: A Pop Opera" that was recently put on by the FWA. I've compiled them all here in one playlist for your convenience!



It should also be noted that this may not be the end of "BARE" media - several extremely reliable sources have said that the cast may in fact be heading into the recording studio. I know I have my fingers crossed!

xoxo
Sprinkles.

UPDATE: The Bare cast WILL be recording a soundtrack, and giving it away in some manner! They can't sell it due to copyright issues.

"Twilight" Rising

I know there are more than a few Twilight fans on campus - Entertainment Weekly recently hailed Stephanie Myers as the next J.K. Rowling. Her latest book in the series was the one that knocked Deathly Hallows off the top spot. And the first book is about to become a major motion picture, to be released in December.

Today the trailer was released. Check it out!



Sprink

What We're Watching

Most of the following can be found in the playlist sidebar feature to the right of this post! Any correspondents that are not listed have not yet sent in their choice; this post and the sidebar will be updated when they do so.

Aletheia
Grey’s Anatomy S04E13 Sneak Peek

aRCHEL
Kurt Browning 2000 Ice Wars – Rag-GIDON-Time

Chipmunk
kitty cat

CoffeeJazzDarkChocolate
Seven-year-old Goes For Drive

Crito
Nelly – Ride Wit Me

Dyamond Phillips
Lil Wayne-Lollipop

ElCarrà
A*Teens - Floorfiller

littleone
Bare: A Pop Opera - "Bare"

Peabo
Religion ala Eddie Izzard

Poseidon
SuperNews! – Gates vs. Jobs

Radish
meiko

SmartyGalPartyGal
David Choe

SPRiNKLES
2009 A True Story – Episode 1_85 Days Remaining

tenandthree
Mad TV – Can I Have Your Number

white chocolate
Dexter

Poll Results!

Noyes' 50th Birthday: YAY or NAY?

17% - YAY
28% - NAY
53% - DIDN'T GO

Disabling

In this recent article by the Misc (http://misc.vassar.edu/archives/2008/05/vassar_faciliti.html) we learned about Vassar's lack of access for disabled persons, and this is something that should worry all of us. How many dorms have access for disabled people? No Quad dorm, not Joss, not Cushing, and many buildings where we have class also lack access for everyone. And hey, I am not counting those lame elevators in the Quad dorms as "access" - would you want to call security every time you wanted to go up even one floor? Even the new Quad stairs were not even built to be accessible. Am I the only angry one that in 2008 we (yes, we) are not even able to provide all of the students with full access to every building? I come from a school that did not have a lot of money, but it was the country's law that every building had to be accessible to everyone, and the school had to start investing in ramps and elevation-machines for stairs and elevators. Will we have to wait for an alumni/ae to donate money to make this College accessible to everyone or will this institution (and us) take the matter seriously and start changing things around? I would be more than willing to help my friend up the stairs, but that is not the point, the fact is that we should all have the right to be able get wherever we want on this campus if we so desire. So, next time we think about getting swipe machines for the vending machines, why not think of things that actually matter first?

Cheers,
ElCarrà.

Buzzing

Ah, Founder's Day stories...I was kind of depressed (cuz of weather, I have to admit) and tired in the throughout most of the day...then I took a half hour nap and GOT CRUNK. Um....everything was funny....I went to sleep...the end. But, my, those chili veggie burgers were grrreat. I told people I'd miss them next year...told one guy I never talk to I was sorry for using his water boiler without permission (it's right there in the kitchen! It's so convenient I have to take advantage. And it helped me progress through the days of putting my mug of cold, tea-bagged water in the microwave). Haha I love it. You know what I also love? Feet. Fucking love those things. I thought of putting up a picture of mine, but decided to save something for the imagination.

Everybody must get buzzed.
CJDC

Pop Bottles

Oh Founder's Day. I have to say, it was definitely a success. For so much of the year it was shrouded in mystery. I knew it was a big deal, but I didn't know exactly what went on. Now, after experiencing it I have to say that I absolutely loved it. Mimosas for breakfast and screwdrivers for lunch. Just about passed out by Walker at 6. Slept till 9 then up for another round. I'd say thats pretty much the idea. Anyways, hope yours was a success too.

Only two days of classes left!
<333 SGPG

Fantastic Weekend

I've seriously been in the greatest mood ever all weekend. On Friday night, my friends and I had a Disney movie marathon (Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, and Aladdin) and honestly, there is nothing to put you in a good mood like watching four Disney movies in a row while eating amazing brownies (the normal kind, not the sketchy kind).

And then FOUNDER'S DAY, which absolutely lived up to what everyone told me about it. I was just in such a happy place all day, and so was everyone else I was with... and despite the fact that it was "the longest day ever" (I am agreeing with Mads on this one), and I'm still confused as to how we packed in so much activity into one day, it was absolutely lovely.

And those fireworks! They were GORGEOUS! From my vantage point, it was like they were falling on my head. It was stunning; I didn't want it to end.

13 days until home.

love and hungover Sundays
littleone

Just Remember to Breathe

Ok so its a Sunday without sun and I am trying to consolidate these last few days here, packing, studying, working etc before I have to go back to the real world [?]. Not that going home is anything new for me, I have a habit of taking myself on multi-month orbits away from my family/hometown and the collisions/near misses that always take place upon those returns have so far marked the grittier, emotional turnpikes in my life. So 'woo' for heading home in 2.5 weeks for round 6.

In the meantime I am going to continue on blindly in my Vassar-d bliss and send out a kudos to Vice for an awesome Afterhours show last week, Meiko and co wove a magnificent acoustic blanket for my friday night and I really appreciated that end of week break.

So here we go, lets just all remember to breathe, and everything should be ok.
tenandthree

='[

I have two weeks left. I'm going to miss Vassar.

Let me rephrase that.
I'm going to miss my friends at Vassar.

Last night, me and my friends played DDR, went to the Limit show (which was EXCELLENT), checked out the Mug, and then spontaneously decided to go to the farm at 1:30 in the morning. At the point that we finally reached the farm we suddenly realized that we should've gone in the other direction, as we were mildly hungry. So we hiked across campus to the Acrop. We were there until 3:00.

I did not get to sleep till 4, and was woken up by none other than Main building herself at 9:00 a.m.

But I don't regret it. Here's why: I LOVE my friends. They're a wildly eclectic group of people, and they're all fabulous. It makes me want to cry sometimes thinking about how great they are, and thinking about how I shall fill the void made by their absence over the summer. Facebook and AIM still exists, but it's not the same. The void can't be filled. At least one of them will be a short drive away from where I live, but the others live several hours away from me.

SO if you're reading this right now, take some time to let your friends know how much you love them. Especially those who you won't be seeing over the summer.

Oh, and
HAPPY FOUNDER'S DAY, BITCHES!

sprink.

"Ladylike"

I’m actually really excited to be staying in tonight. This past week has been hellish, with many nights of 3 or less hours of sleep. I feel like a zombie. But tonight, I’m going to eat a good dinner, go to the limit show, watch Gosford Park, and sleep. I am so excited for the sleep. And then I get to wake up early on Founder’s Day! Have any of you read the story of the origins of Founder’s Day? It’s actually really sweet. The college threw a surprise party for Matthew Vassar on that day, and he was so touched, it was cute. I love stories like that. Although there’s the little sidebar notice that the girls were instructed to wave their handkerchiefs silently because cheering wasn’t “ladylike.” I hate that word. Last night, one of my friends told me that her first impression of me was prim and proper. I laughed so hard that I snorted. Charming, right?

Good luck with the end of classes, and have a very happy founder’s day!

Peabo

eugenics and room draw

Last night I participated in a heated debate with three other friends on eugenics.

It was a fascinating discussion, and I'm glad we had it--my views on eugenics have definitely evolved and it's not even a topic I'd really thought about before.

In addition to learning about this, I also learned about the character of my three friends who participated. It's quite telling how loud they speak, how they address people, how they visibly react emotionally. It was quite topsy-turvy at times.

Amazing though, quite a wonderful discussion.

In other news, room draw is over! My friends and I stayed until the bitter end to keep everyone company as they whittled down the choices. I'm very satisfied with my room--it's not ideal, definitely, but it's pretty ideal for me. I'm not too picky. (Bigger isn't always better. :P)

Anyway, no matter what happened last night, everything WILL turn out just fine. I promise. Pinky-swear? Yes.

- aRCHEL

Missed Season

Back home, I had my own room with my own television. I would sit there in the months of January-May and OD on American Idol.

Then came Vassar...

What happened was I became a busy mess and found very little to no time for AI. I was once the addict calling in the second the lines opened (and successfully getting through) but now...

I have only seen the auditions. As much as I'd love to cheer and vote, I've just no time.

Same for all my other major shows:
House, Degrassi, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, New Amsterdam, South of Nowhere...

I know I can watch them online, but I don't even have time for that. Even my posting here has been slacking.

At least I know everything will pay off in the end... even if I do miss 4 seasons of AI *heartache*

Is/has anyone else faced what I'm facing?

Luvs and hugs,
Dyamond Phillips

X

Just an awesome tidbit that I thought I'd share:

Exactly ten years ago today, May 2, 1998, Lord Voldemort was finally defeated by Harry Potter.

Sprink ;)

It's Coming

As I'm sure you've heard, High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be released October 24 exclusively in theaters. Principal photography starts Saturday, May 3, and all the chief actors will be back to reprise their roles!

If I've learned one thing about HSM, it's that you either love it or you hate it. As for me? I LOVE it. Sure, it can be corny and that sugary-sweetness that is Disney, but I like taking refuge from the evils of the world in a quality Disney movie every once in a while. Oh, and Zac Efron is HOTTTT.

Anyway, the poster was released today - check it out!
Sprink.

Trials of Room Draw

**WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS MORE THAN 300 WORDS.**
During the Nuremberg trials, after the fall of the Nazi regime, many officers of the Nazi army were pressed to explain just why and for that matter how they were able to commit such atrocities. Where they brainwashed? Did they enjoy it? Many broke down and proclaimed that no one knows what kind of person they will become until put under such extreme circumstances. Many survivor say the same, a good man becomes a murderer while a shrewd man saves lives. We’re far from Nazi Germany and no one is being burned alive but today I witnessed first hand how human nature can change.

Far stretched metaphor? Not really for Main room draw… Personally my friends and I had a set plan for the last week. We scoped out the rooms, called dibs, and worked out the numbering for where we would go. We decided to stick together next year as we had done this year. By 7:10 we saw the rooms left after the seniors and juniors drew, and panic ensued. Suddenly, over the next hour, friends began gossiping, plotting their own rooms for their own selfish desires. I watched roommates abandon others far down on the list for singles. I saw others tell someone to their face they would pull them in and then leave with someone else or no one at all. Girls cried. Each time another room was crossed out another person revamped their plan to suit their needs.

Never before have I felt so abandoned as my friend came back to say she picked a room far away from our original plan. Now what? Where the fuck do I go when we’ve all scattered? I guess I fail the test of humanity because I took on of the largest singles I could. There was nothing left for me to do, our group had scattered and that was that. Am I bitter? A little… Maybe two floors and the length of Main will give us enough space and we’ll stay close, maybe not. All I can say is next year will be different. I’m just ready for summer and a break from Vassar’s occasionally excessive drama.

Yours Truly, contrASt